The 51st annual Anacortes Arts Festival, a sun-drenched explosion of art that took over downtown, had a successful three-day run, said festival organizer Rita James.
“It ran about as smoothly as we could hope,” she said. “The vendors were happy. The crowds were happy. It wasn’t too crowded.”
James speculated that temperatures that reached the 80s on Saturday and Sunday may have kept the crowds down. She said it’s likely there were fewer visitors than last year, although sales may be comparable.
No incidents of vandalism, theft or injury were reported, and James said that the Experience Art area — with the return of steamroller prints and art demonstrations, and the addition of LaChausseé Blown Glass — was a big draw again this year.
“That working artist area just keeps growing every year,” she said.
Click to see a gallery of Arts Festival photos.
The Fine Art Award winners included:
• People Choice: $1,000 to Steve Johnson of Port Orchard for his photography.
• Best of Show Fine Art Awards: $2,500 each to Anita Luvera Mayer of Anacortes for her 3D fiber art, and Stephjen Canliffe of Port Orchard for his 2D photography.
• T-Bailey Corporate Award: $500 to Matt Sellars of Seattle for his wood sculpture.
Other awards were distributed over the weekend to booth artisans:
• Best of Fest Booth Artisan Award: $2,000 to Paddy McNeely of Seattle, for ceramics.
• Creativity Award: $1,000 to Alison Supple of Issaquah, also for ceramics.
• The Anacortes Chamber of Commerce also gave six Partnership Awards to Mary Anderson of Seattle, Mary Beier of Phoenix, Robbie and Chantay Curnow of Seattle, Amy Gibson of Bainbridge Island, Laurie McClelland of Yelm and Patrick and Corrie Tutt of Canyon Lake, Calif.
James said promotion of the awards was a success, with more than 1,000 votes cast in the People Choice Award.
“Now we’re picking things up and getting ready to start planning next year,” she said.
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